THE PAST: Hill originally was drafted by the Montreal Expos in 2000 and advanced to the majors in 2004, but had the first of two Tommy John surgeries in 2005 and missed the entire season. In 2007 he posted a 4-5 record with a 3.42 ERA in 16 starts for Washington, then followed that with a 1-5 record and 5.83 ERA in 12 starts for the Nationals the following season. His 2008 season was cut short by bone spurs in his right elbow, and in 2009 he signed with San Diego. He made three starts for the Padres that season before undergoing his second Tommy John surgery. The native of Mississauga, Ont., signed with the Blue Jays in 2010 but spent most of the season in the minors. He signed with Florida in 2010 but did not pitch that season. Last year he began the season with the York Revolution in the independent Atlantic League and was 2-0 with a 2.43 ERA in seven appearances, including five starts. He signed with Toronto again and had a 9-2 record with a 4.52 ERA for the Jays’ Triple-A team in Las Vegas in the Pacific Coast League. He earned a promotion to Toronto and won in his only appearance with the Blue Jays, shutting out the Yankees in three hitless innings in late September.
THE FUTURE: Hill is a command pitcher with a good curveball and change-up but relies mostly on a sinker that usually sits in the high-80s to low-90s. He has spent the overwhelming majority of his career as a starter, and he profiles as a workhouse innings-eater at the Triple-A level who provides an established starter should a need arise at the major-league level.
WORTH NOTING: For his career Hill is 11-6 with a 4.26 ERA in 23 appearances at the Triple-A level – all starts. … At the major-league level Hill has a 10-18 career record with a 4.69 ERA in 45 appearances, all but one of which were starts.
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